Five cars named after racetracks
FEATURE/ Sudhir Matai reflects on the Maserati Kyalami, Ferrari Monza and other cars inspired by racing circuits
One of the trickiest jobs in the automotive world must be that of choosing a name for a new model. Carmakers have to check if the name has been used by competitors before. They also have to learn about odd connotations in different languages. And does it convey the essence of the new product?
Some manufacturers shortcut the process by simply naming their latest product after a racetrack. We look at five examples of this naming convention.
MASERATI KYALAMI
It seems fitting to begin this list right here at home. The Maserati Kyalami was named after the grand ole dame of SA racetracks that can be found right here in Mzansi’s Midrand. It is reported that the name was chosen to celebrate the marque’s victory at the 1967 SA Formula One Grand Prix.
The grand touring coupe has two doors and a 2+2 seating arrangement. Power is derived from a high-revving, for the time, V8. The engine, initially 4.2l and latterly 4.9l, was mated with a five-speed manual transmission or a three-speed auto as an option.
FERRARI MONZA SP1/2
Italian carmaker Ferrari has named many cars after racetracks: Fiorano, Le Mans, Daytona. Heck, it even just called one model Pista, which means track in Italian. However, the latest open-top Ferrari is named after the Temple of Speed in its home country.
The newer barchetta borrows the title from a model that was built in the 1950s.
In its more recent guise the Monza can be optioned with one or two seats, depending on your propensity for company on long, speedy drives. Speed is assured thanks to a high-revving V12 engine that produces more than 600kW of power. The naturally aspirated engine is mounted ahead of the cabin and is connected to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch automated transmission. A less sporty model that shares the same name was the Opel Monza that was a staple of South African families in the 1990s.
LAMBORGHINI JARAMA
Circuito del Jarama in Spain played host to several Formula One and motorcycle grands prix from the 1960s to the late 1980s. The circuit lends its name to a four-seater Lamborghini that is powered by a V12 engine. The Lamborghini Jarama was conceived as a GT rather than an out and out sports car.
Interestingly, Lamborghini has never featured official factory involvement in the world of Formula One, save for an ill-fated attempt at being an engine supplier in the early 1990s. Looking at the design now, many may not think the Jarama is a Lamborghini. It is a far cry from the svelte Miura or the jaw-dropping Countach, though values are bound to increase over time as just 328 units were produced during its life cycle.
CHRYSLER SEBRING
If ever a car was undeserving of its name, this is it. The Chrysler Sebring, which was sold locally for a time, is named after one of the oldest racetracks in the US and is also the home of the annual 12 Hours of Sebring endurance event.
The Chrysler namesake was a humdrum vanilla sedan, think Toyota Camry but more boring. Oh, you could also get it in sunseeking drop-top guise (as pictured). It was powered by an underwhelming in-line fourcylinder engine or a 2.7l V6 that, in both cases, delivered power to the front wheels usually via a torque converter automatic. Hardly a track-focused machine, then.
SHELBY DAYTONA COUPE
Carroll Shelby was immortalised through the raft of highperformance models that carry his name. Younger petrolheads will be familiar with his handiwork through the recent racing Hollywood blockbuster movie Ford vs Ferrari.
The one-time racing driver shot to prominence on the world stage in the 1960s when he shoehorned a Ford V8 into the nose of an AC Ace sports car from the UK. In doing so he created the legendary AC Cobra. The famous roadster was an instant hit thanks to its low mass and powerful engine. However, the open cockpit body style was not conducive to high top speeds as required to successfully compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Shelby asked his design team to close the Cobra’s cabin and the Shelby Daytona Coupe was born, named after the famous track in the US. The new model delivered a class win at Le Mans.
Just six of these high-speed machines were built as Shelby was soon preoccupied with the Ford GT40 Le Mans project. A version of the famous Daytona Coupe, now called the Superformance Daytona Coupe, is still produced here in SA.
Hi-Tech Automotive in Gqeberha builds the cars for Superformance which sells them in the US.
SHELBY ASKED HIS DESIGN TEAM TO CLOSE THE COBRA’S CABIN AND THE SHELBY DAYTONA COUPE WAS BORN